INDIANAPOLIS – Eight Conference USA programs have earned a spot in the 2026 National Collegiate Bowling Championship Regionals, as announced by the NCAA Wednesday afternoon.
After going 97-10 on the season and claiming the CUSA Championship title where they cliched an automatic bid, Jacksonville State will enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed. The Gamecocks won the National Championship just two years ago in the program’s first ever season. They will play in the Lansing Regional where they will prepare to face the winner of the opening round match between Carroll (WI) and Fayetteville State.
Joining the Gamecocks in Lansing will be defending national champion Youngstown State. The Penguins won their first ever championship title last season with an upset over Jax State. In their sixth-straight tournament appearance, they will take on Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Champions, North Carolina A&T.
Earning the second seed and heading to the Rochester Regional will be three-time NC Bowling Champion, Vanderbilt. The Commodores will play the winner of Dominican (NY) and Alabama A&M from the opening round. This marks their 20
th consecutive tournament appearance.
Also earning a spot in the Rochester Regional is Sam Houston where they will take on Maryville. This will be the Bearkats 14
th time in 16 years that they have qualified for the championships.
CUSA runner-up Arkansas State will enter as the No. 3 seed where they will compete in the Pittsburgh Regional. The Red Wolves have finished as National Collegiate runners-up three times in the past five years and will look to make a run yet again. They will face the winner of the Saint Vincent versus Belmont Abbey match.
Nebraska will also be heading to the Pittsburgh Regional to take on Duquesne. The Huskers are the most decorated bowling program in the NCAA, holding six national titles, their last being in 2021.
The fourth and final regional of the tournament will take place in Arlington, where No. 4 Louisiana Tech will look to advance its way to the finals. It will be the battle of the Bulldogs as LA Tech will prepare to take on the East Coast Conference Champion, Bryant.
Wichita State will be on the other side of the Arlington Regional, taking on Great Lakes Valley Conference Champion, Newman.
The 2026 National Collegiate Bowling Championships will kick off April 2 with single-elimination opening rounds. Regional rounds will officially begin April 3 in a double-elimination mega match format and will play through April 4. The last four teams standing will head to Parma Heights, Ohio for the finals on April 10-11. They will play a four-team double-elimination mega match format, and the final two teams will face off in a best-of-seven Baker match championship.
NCAA Lansing Region
1. Jacksonville State
Carroll (WI) / Fayetteville
Youngstown State
North Carolina A&T
NCAA Rochester Region
2. Vanderbilt
Dominican (N.Y.) / Alabama A&M
Maryville (MO)
Sam Houston
NCAA Pittsburgh Region
3. Arkansas State
Saint Vincent / Belmont Abbey
Nebraska
Duquesne
NCAA Arlington Region
4. Louisiana Tech
Bryant
Wichita State
Newman